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Relentless Red Sox wear down Rays, take 2-0 lead

The relentless Red Sox took a 2-0 ALDS lead Saturday, defeating the Rays 7-4, but Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon is confident his team can take the next two at home to force a decisive Game 5 at Fenway Park.
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Paul White, USA TODAY Sports
11:46 p.m. EDT October 5, 2013

David Ortiz celebrates his first two-homer playoff game as the Red Sox take a 2-0 ALDS lead.(Photo: Bob DeChiara, USA TODAY Sports)

Or, just maybe, glossed over in the Rays' magical mystery tour to get to this series is that they're simply not as good as the team that, over 162 games, finished six games better in the AL East. Tampa Bay has now lost to Boston 14 times in 21 games this year.

The Red Sox made quick work of the notion pitching ace David Price could solve whatever ails the Rays.

Continuing that "relentless" theme that began in Boston's 12-2 Friday afternoon happy hour, leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury parlayed a break and some resolve-breaking pressure into a first-inning run off Price.

Ellsbury started the inning with a broken-bat single to short right field but quickly did his best to step on a team when it's down, getting a huge jump on Price to steal second base. Catcher Jose Molina's throw went into center field, sending Ellsbury to third where he could score on Dustin Pedroia's sacrifice fly.

David Ortiz immediately contributed a big thing -- overwhelming a pitch into the right-center field seats for a 2-0 first-inning lead.

Ortiz would add the exclamation point in the eighth by driving Price's final pitch of the evening over – yes, over – the foul pole in right field. It's Ortiz's first post-season two-homer game.

In between was a relentless onslaught of those little things.

"I think that's a key for a pitcher like Price," Ellsbury says. "Don't let him get comfortable. Put pressure on him each inning. I thought we did a pretty good job of that."

In fact, Price allowed 10 baserunners over the first five innings, the same number he had allowed combined in his previous three starts against the Red Sox since late July, encompassing 24 1/3 innings.

He allowed 11 total runners Saturday, a number topped in only four of his 27 previous starts this year.

"Tip your hats to us," says left fielder Jonny Gomes. "All three of his pitches were there. His velocity was there. You can talk about taking pitches, seeing pitches, grinding at-bats. We don't do that every single night."

Victorino talked about a tough but clean takeout slide to keep Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist from turning a double play in what became a two-run third inning. On a similar play an inning later, Zobrist's relay bounced off the top of the Boston dugout and helped the Red Sox score a two-out run.

Another of the uncharacteristic mistakes by the Rays in the first two games.

"Did that first slide make a difference?" Victorino said. "I don't know. But you put pressure on. Those kinds of things collectively add up. I know that's not the way the Rays usually play."

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The Red Sox are taking a script right out of the NHL playbook -- playoff beards. Only, it began far before the postseason. Almost every player on the roster has some sort of facial hair, with many looking like Civil War generals. A look at some of the bearded ones:
Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports

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That's also what the Rays' four-city criss-crossing of North America has been.

It finally slowed down when they got to Boston this week. Wow, three consecutive days in the same town, something they hadn't experienced since last weekend.

Step back, take a deep breath … find out you really are weary.

"I don't think so," Rays third baseman Evan Longoria says of the fatigue theory. "This is a tough environment to play. We have to play better, bottom line."

Even if they really are tired, the Rays would never admit to it, might not even realize it. And they weren't nearly as sloppy as in their Game 1 loss.

Whether it was that or the Red Sox being opportunistic, relentless, better or all of the above, Tampa Bay was left to play from behind all night and they simply didn't do it as well.

Both teams had their leadoff batter on base in four of the first five innings. The Red Sox scored in four of them, the Rays in one. Boston turned three double plays for the first time in the postseason since a game in which Babe Ruth was the winning pitcher. That was the 1918 (remember when that year was significant?) World Series.

Now, the Tampa Bay savior has to be Alex Cobb, who – truth be told – has pitched better than Price the past two months.

The Rays get two nights in their own beds before they have to play again. We'll see if that helps.

Or maybe it's the opportunity to play three consecutive elimination games again.

"Boston this time of year is kind of lovely. And I'm looking forward to coming back in a few days," says Rays ever-positive manager Joe Maddon.

Game 3 -- Rays 5, Red Sox 4: Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli (left) and shortstop Stephen Drew (7) congratulate each other after they made a double play in the second inning.
Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports

Game 2 -- Red Sox 7, Rays 4: Red Sox right fielder Shane Victorino (18) is out at second base while preventing Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist (18) from completing a double play during the third inning.
Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports

Game 2 -- Red Sox 7, Rays 4: Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli (12) welcomes designated hitter David Ortiz (34) to home plate after he hit a home run during the first inning.
Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports